Where is Somalia in the World?

Somalia is a country in Africa. Known as the Federal Republic of Somalia, the country is located in the Horn of Africa, which is a peninsula in the northeastern region of Africa. Somalia shares its borders with three other African countries. Djibouti is situated to the northwest of Somalia and Ethiopia lies along the western Somali border. Kenya is southwest of Somalia.

The three central bodies of water that encompass Somalia are the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean, and the Guardafui Channel. The Gulf of Aden lies along Somalia's northern border. The Indian Ocean is found in the east of Somalia, as is the Guardafui Channel. This channel also runs along the northeastern border of Somalia, acting as a divider between Somalia and Socotra, which is an archipelago of the Western Asian country of Yemen.

Somalia's Latitudinal and Longitudinal Coordinates

With a latitude of 5.1521° N, Somalia is in the northern hemisphere. Similarly, Somalia is to the north of the equator. The longitude of Somalia is the coordinate of 46.1996° E, placing the country in the eastern hemisphere. These GPS coordinates show that Somalia is found above the equator.

Most Extreme Points of Somalia

In the north, Somalia's furthest point is in Alula, which is a coastal town in Somalia's province of Bari. The latitude of the country's northernmost point is 11°59' N. The southernmost point of Somalia is located in the Badhadhe District. With a latitude of 01°40' S, the southern point of extremity lies on the border between Somalia and Kenya.

The easternmost point of the country has a longitude of 51°27'52" E. Located in the Puntland State of Somalia, the eastern extremity is part of the cape, Hafun, in the Bari Province. In the west, Somalia's most extreme point is situated along the Kenyan-Somali border. This point has a longitudinal coordinate of 41°00' E.

Total Area, Population Size, and Density

The total area of Somalia is about 246,199 square miles in all, of which 242,215 square miles are land, and 3,985 square miles is water. Somalia’s population currently is at a peak of 15,414,074 people. The population density of Somalia is about 63 people per square mile.

Angola does not have direct access to any water sources, so the country’s total area is entirely land-based, all of which is divided into eight separate provinces.